Santuario di Maria Santissima di Custonaci, Gothic Catholic shrine in Custonaci, Italy.
The Santuario di Maria Santissima di Custonaci stands in the centre of Custonaci, in the province of Trapani. Its parvis is paved with small river pebbles laid in floral and geometric patterns, and the facade has a rose window of tufa stone with coloured glass. Inside, a Roman-cross plan with three naves is divided by masonry columns painted to imitate marble, carrying pointed Gothic-style arches.
The sanctuary stands on a chapel of the Immaculate Conception first documented in 1536; the present building dates from the second half of the 16th century. It was enlarged between 1727 and 1772, then rebuilt between 1870 and 1900 under Monsignor Giuseppe Rizzo, who gave it the Gothic façade and the great staircase. The parish was erected in 1909.
The feast runs from the last Sunday to the last Wednesday of August and, by some accounts, began in 1572. On Sunday the mayor of Custonaci entrusts the town to the Madonna, lights a candle and hands over the town keys; 18th-century crowns are placed on the heads of the Virgin and Child. On Monday night the landing of the image at Cornino bay is re-enacted, with a ship handing the painting to local sailors.
The sanctuary stands in the centre of Custonaci, its parvis paved with river pebbles in floral and geometric patterns. The adjoining Arte e Fede museum holds a 1541 tempera on wood from the workshop of Antonello Crescenzio, once used as a door and found in the early 1970s. The feast runs from the last Sunday to the last Wednesday of August, with a novena and a pilgrimage from Sperone beforehand.
The high altar from 1627 stands out with its Baroque style featuring polychrome marble and houses a statue of the Immaculate Conception. This crafted work of art is among the most valuable elements inside and draws regular attention from visitors.
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